Commentary
The Case for a Traction Power Feasibility Study
Written by Alan L. Cinsavich and Priyan De Silva
In modern railway systems, electricity “is a convenient power source for efficient mass transportation,” according to Alan L. Cinsavich and Priyan De Silva of Helios Electric, a Washington, D.C.-based provider of full-service engineering, construction and design for high-, medium- and low-voltage systems.
In their white paper, How a Traction Power Feasibility Study Ensures that a Railway Electrification System Will Function as Intended for All Plausible Operating Conditions, Cinsavich and De Silva provide a general overview of railway traction power systems (both AC and DC). They describe in great detail the complexities associated with redesigning or modernizing a traction power system, and how a feasibility study might avoid some of the common pitfalls. Analytical studies, for example, “can be applied to avoid pitfalls in an otherwise sound design,” the authors point out.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Alan L. Cinsavich is a senior electrical engineer with Helios Electric. Cinsavich received his BS degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. He has more than 43 years of experience in the electrical industry. At Helios Electric, he is responsible for designing, developing and overseeing complex electrical projects.
Priyan De Silva is a senior electrical engineer with Helios Electric. De Silva received his BS degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. He has more than 17 years of experience in the electrical industry. As owner of Helios Electric, he oversees the firm’s major projects. De Silva is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and a licensed master electrician (ME).
